Oral Surgery Procedures in Tampa

Bone grafting is the replacement or enhancement of bone around teeth. When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone collapses. Bone grafting is performed to reverse bone loss or enhance existing bone. The grafting material can be taken from parts of the body or from synthetic material. Bone grafting allows for proper support of dental implants or prostheses.

Sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices, and/or surgery. Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) is often an effective alternative to CPAP for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.

A frenectomy is a simple surgical procedure performed to release the connection of the “frenum,” a connective muscle between two tissues. There are two types of oral frenectomies that are frequently performed on both adults and children for a variety of reasons.

A Labial Frenectomy is performed on the tissue that connects the lip to the gums. This may be performed on children or adults to aid with orthodontic treatment or even help with the proper fitting for a denture or appliance.

A Lingual Frenectomy may also be referred to as the release of tongue-ties (ankyloglossia). This procedure is performed on the connective tissue under the tongue. The procedure is often performed on neonatal patients to assist with nursing or on toddlers or older patients who need the surgery to help correct speech issues caused by limited movement due to the frenum.

A sinus lift is a surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the premolar and molar areas of your mouth. To add bone, an incision is made where the premolar and molar teeth were previously located. Once the bone is exposed, a small circular shape is made in the bone to access the sinus. Once the sinus is accessed, the sinus membrane is gently pushed up and away from the upper jaw. Once this is done, bone graft material is placed into the sinus space to change the shape and provide support. Once the bone is in place, the incision is closed and the healing process begins.

The term dentoalveolar refers to the teeth and the alveolar bone that supports the teeth. Surgery involving the dentoalveolar area is the basis for much of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Dentoalveolar procedures simple procedures, such as simple extractions to much more complex procedures. Often, a combination of procedures requiring extraction, modification to the bone, and/or modification of the gum tissue surrounding the surgical site are included in a dentoalveolar surgery.

Dentoalveolar procedures may include a combination of the following:

• Partial or full tooth extraction
• Removal of bone material
• Reshaping of bone material
• Soft tissue removal
• Soft tissue repair

If gum recession is present and tooth roots are exposed, a gum graft may be recommended. This procedure is used to control and prevent further gum recession and subsequent damage to the surrounding teeth and bone structure. Often, a soft tissue graft also improves the appearance of a patient’s smile and sensitivity to heat and cold.

During a soft-tissue graft, tissue is surgically placed to cover as much of the exposed root area as possible. Often, a tissue flap is created to allow the added tissue to be joined to the existing gums to facilitate tissue growth and healing. This procedure may be used to treat one or several adjacent teeth at the time of the surgery.

A tooth that can not be saved with restorative materials may need to be removed. First, the area will be numbed with anesthesia. The tooth is then loosened with a special dental instrument known as an elevator. After the tooth is loosened from the socket, it is removed. Stitches may be necessary after the removal of a tooth.